What a full replacement includes
We tear the old roof off down to the deck. Roofing over an existing layer hides rot and voids most manufacturer warranties, so we do not do it.
Any soft or rotted decking gets replaced before anything goes back on. Then ice and water shield along the eaves and valleys, synthetic underlayment across the field, new flashing at every penetration, and your shingles.
Ridge vent goes on last so the attic actually breathes. Poor ventilation is the fastest way to cook a new roof down to half its life.
Asphalt or metal
Most of our replacements are architectural asphalt shingle. It handles Pennsylvania freeze and thaw well, the color range is wide, and the price works for most budgets.
Metal costs more up front and lasts far longer. If you plan to stay in the house for decades, or the roof is steep and hard to access, it is worth pricing both. We install both, so we have no reason to push you toward one.
How long it takes
A typical single-family tear-off and replacement runs one to three days depending on size, pitch and weather. Customers regularly tell us we finished sooner than they expected.
We clean up daily rather than leaving debris until the end, and we run a magnet over the yard for nails before we leave.